The Advantages of a Rigid Bronchoscopy

The rigid bronchoscopy is actually an old procedure that has been in practice since the late nineteenth century. First performed by Gustav Killian in 1897 to remove a pork bone from the throat of an elderly farmer, the procedure allows doctors to visually inspect the airways for diagnoses. As opposed to flexible bronchoscopy, the tube used for rigid bronchoscopy makes it possible for doctors to perform operations and other procedures.

Visual Diagnoses

• A doctor will often use a rigid bronchoscopy to evaluate a patient who has reported breathing problems, to evaluate growths in the airways and to determine the existence and extent of lung cancer. If a patient has reported breathing problems and the doctor suspects an obstruction in the airways, rigid bronchoscopy can allow the doctor to actually retrieve any foreign objects from the patient's throat.

Electrocautery and Other Procedures

• During surgery that involves rigid bronchoscopy, a doctor can perform other procedures such as electrocautery, which is used to control significant bleeding. Rigid bronchoscopy also allows for the introduction of fluid and oxygen into the throat, the suctioning of fluids and the removal of large pieces of tissue that are diseased or need a biopsy.

Widespread Use

• Another advantage of undergoing a procedure that has been practiced for so long is that it is relatively easy to find a doctor who can perform the procedure and provide you with good advice on its relative merits. If you choose to have rigid bronchoscopy, you will find a suitable number of local doctors who have experience and expertise in it.